Delhi, Dal and the Taj Mahal

Looking down on Old Delhi from the Spice Market

It's my last day in Delhi before I leave for Orissa on a 24 hour train. I'm in an internet cafe, and just seen a mouse tail disappear behind the computer screen (eek) so I better make this quick.

After 3 weeks training, I can now:

• Hold a basic conversation with an autorickshaw driver and the sabziwala (vegetable man). Although most people in Delhi speak some English, it's definitely useful for these occasions. The people in shops seem to find my attempts at Hindi very amusing, but generally get the gist of what I'm saying, so everyone wins. Let's hope it will be some use when I get to Orissa, where they speak Oriya...hm
• Rustle up some Indian nibbles – matar paneer (cheese & pea curry), roti, veg biryani, dal (lentils), lassi (yoghurt drink) and chutney. Or at least I can watch the VSO chef cook it, and take notes – look forward to testing it out once I have a kitchen.
• Work in an Indian NGO? Let's hope so! At the very least I have an insight into some of the inner workings of a typical NGO, the culture and things to expect, but there's only so much preparation you can do – so, now it's time to get stuck in.

Tomorrow I'll bid farewell to my fellow volunteers as we set off to different parts of India. I'm pretty ready to leave the chaos of Delhi, and looking forward to seeing Bhubaneswar, unpacking my bags and settling into my new life for the next year!

The Taj Mahal